Redesigned V&A East Storehouse: A Glimpse into Tomorrow's Museum Exhibits
In the heart of east London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the much-anticipated V&A East Storehouse will soon open its doors, radically transforming the museum experience and marking a groundbreaking cultural milestone in the £600 million East Bank development, as announced by London's Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons.
The repurposed 2012 Olympic Media Centre, now three levels and sprawling across an area equivalent to 30 basketball courts, has been meticulously designed by the globally acclaimed architectural firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro. Known for their work on the High Line in New York, they have crafted a space designed to invite and captivate, with a design inspired by the creative disciplines the V&A East Storehouse seeks to represent.
Upon entering this labyrinth of creativity, visitors will be greeted by sculptures and statues that span centuries and continents, from Greek busts to Buddhas nestled in open wooden crates. Climbing the stairs, they are drawn into a cavernous treasure trove, adorned with Japanese ceramics, mid-century furniture, Suffragette merchandise, and a Margaret Calvert street sign.
Visitors can even partake in the "Order an Object" service, an innovative offering that allows anyone to reserve up to five objects online and get up close with previously inaccessible artefacts, revealing surprising stories from the V&A's extensive collection.
The storehouse caters to all, with step-free access, lifts, and accessible facilities ensuring that everyone can enjoy the wealth of knowledge and beauty housed within. Of particular interest are the more than 75% of new jobs created at the museum, given to local residents.
Walking through the tantalizing array of exhibits, visitors will be greeted by intriguing stories and anecdotes, from the thousands of shoes meticulously accommodated to the exquisite 15th century carved and gilded wooden ceiling from the now-lost Torrijos Palace near Toledo, Spain, carefully restored and installed in the central collections hall.
A highlight of the storehouse is the stripped-down, immersive "one object room," an intimate space that allows visitors to contemplate a single item, currently featuring a ceiling-high stage cloth from the Ballet Russes in Paris, 1924, recreating Picasso's "Two Women Running Along a Beach."
The V&A East Storehouse forms part of the larger East Bank initiative, a new culture and education district in London that cost over £600 million - the biggest investment in culture by the Mayor of London - and welcomes over 1.5 million visitors annually, delivering a £1.5 billion boost to the local economy and thousands of jobs.
With Sadler's Wells East, the London College of Fashion, and University College London already opened and flourishing, the arrival of the V&A East Storehouse signifies another momentous chapter in London's vibrant cultural landscape.
- The V&A East Storehouse, situated within London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, not only promises to revolutionize the museum experience but also contributes significantly to the local economy and lifestyle, offering job opportunities for local residents.
- Upon completion, the redesigned home-and-garden space of the V&A East Storehouse will showcase an eclectic mix of artifacts, including Japanese ceramics, mid-century furniture, and Suffragette merchandise, reflecting the richness and diversity of its collection, compelling visitors to explore and appreciate its beauty.
